Types of Pain – Referred (Read it to find out if you have it) – Part 2 – Food Trap
Oral Conditions
Food trap
A small gap or decay between the teeth can cause food to be trapped. If the teeth opposing the gap bite right up into it, then the food impacts into the gum between the teeth. If gap is narrow, then the food can’t come out under the pressure of the bite.
This can cause the pressure nerve endings that are found in the gums to fire! This feeds back to the brain. This feedback modifies the action of the muscles and then the jaw joint.
This referred pain can then manifest as jaw joint problem, muscle ache and even excessive pressure of teeth on the opposite side of the mouth.
The body is avoiding the pressure pain of the food trap.
The teeth on either side of the food trap can move, changing the bite and eventually causing sensitivity to hot and cold as the nerve inside the teeth begins to not like the situation!
The longer it there the more the affect radiates, leading “headaches”, neck problems, emotion upset. Not able to eat causes its own problems.
All because of 2-3 mm diameter of impacted food material getting hammered with our powerful jaw chewing muscles. We can be not very nice to ourselves very quickly!
Root canal treated teeth & food traps
Incidentally teeth that have had a root canal treatment will not feel sensitive to cold or hot.
They have a reduced perception of excessive loading on the teeth with out the never inside the teeth.
So, this is an example of a lack of referred pain is not good.
They will be more bear bite loading, without proper feedback to the brain, causing a higher incidence of root fractures.
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Easter 2025